Computeach buys Advent Computer Training assets
Dudley firm Computeach has bought the assets of a collapsed Worcestershire training company whose demise left thousands of students in limbo halfway through their courses.
The IT training firm has purchased parts of Hagley-based Advent Computer Training, which along with its sister company Access 2 Careers was being managed by administrators PKF after the firms went bust in February.
The move should put an end to some of the misery endured by students from all over the country who were still repaying thousands of pounds in loans only to find their courses suspended.
But not everyone was happy at the news - on a Facebook group set up for the students to communicate with each other following the collapse, many voiced concerns that Computeach would not offer a "like for like" service comparable to that originally promised by Advent.
Advent provided IT training to around 6,500 students across the UK, while Access 2 Careers offered plumbing and electrical courses to more than 3,000.
Some of the assets if Access 2 Careers have been purchased by OLCI Construction Training, a nationwide provider of plumbing, gas and electrical training.
Both Computeach and OLCI have been confirmed as preferred training partners by Barclays Partner Finance, which provided third party loans to students to fund their courses.
Administrator Ian Gould, a partner at PKF in Birmingham, said: "The sale of the assets of the two businesses, allied with the partnership arrangements with Barclays Partner Finance, should enable the majority of students to continue their courses if they wish to do so.
"The future of the students was always paramount during the negotiations of the last few weeks and I am confident we have secured the best possible solution."
The administrators will also be contacting the small number of students who had not financed their courses via Barclays to explore ways of enabling them to continue their studies.
Computeach managing director Karl Parkinson said: "Barclays has shown leadership during this uncertain time for students and we are delighted to be chosen as their preferred training partner.
"We look forward to working with the students in order to deliver new skills and a real chance of securing rewarding and secure jobs in the IT industry."
Advent Computer Training, established in 2002, and Access 2 Careers, established in 2004, were operated by directors Ivor Allchurch and Ashley Jones from offices at 5 The Mews, Hagley Hall, Hagley, Worcestershire.
They employed around 250 people and had a joint annual turnover of £30 million.
